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Yankees have the best tour guide in Panama: Mariano Rivera

March 14, 2014

PANAMA CITY, Panama — Gian Paolo Moran had no idea who was putting together the Sr. Bocon toy Mariano Rivera had given the 4-year old boy who was in a Patronato del Hospital del Nino bed with a mangled right hand.

All Moran knew was that a tall man sat down on a chair at the side of the bed Friday and started the task of putting the toy together. That it was Derek Jeter didn’t matter to Moran, whose liquid brown eyes danced when the Yankees’ captain finished the chore and they started playing with it.

As nurses, doctors and other children watched, Jeter and Moran flipped chips into a moving dish that had a lid go up and down on it increasing the degree of difficulty.

“Close, close,’’ Jeter said when Moran came within an inch of dropping a chip into the bowl. While encouraging the child, Jeter got three chips into the bowl.

Jeter had a few problems putting the toy together.

“The directions were in Spanish,” he said.

Jeter and the Yankees are in town for two exhibition games against the Marlins at Rod Carew Stadium on Saturday and Sunday, but the visit to Rivera’s native country is about a lot more than baseball.

After Rivera led several former teammates on a tour of the Panama Canal in the morning, baseball’s all-time saves leader went to the hospital with David Robertson and Jeter in the afternoon.

“This is similar to the holiday events at home where you get the opportunity to see kids and make them happy,’’ said Jeter, who was as popular to the adults in the hospital as Rivera. “It’s a happy day and a lot of fun.’’

Rivera, who will be honored during the weekend in front of what is expected to be a sold-out venue that holds 27,000 people, bathed in the role of Santa Claus.

“It means a lot to me, to bring the toys here,’’ Rivera said. “Now I have my ex-teammates come here. It’s about doing something right for the kids.’’

Rivera made a pledge of trust donation to the hospital for $5,000 with more to come.

Earlier in the day, the love affair between the people of Panama and Rivera was felt when Rivera brought along former teammates to the canal.

Among those making the half-hour trek from the club hotel to the 100-year-old facility were Brett Gardner, Robertson, Preston Claiborne, manager Joe Girardi, coaches Kevin Long and Tony Pena, and spring training instructor Willie Randolph.

“How many people can say they walked across the Panama Canal with Mariano Rivera,’’ said Robertson, who will get the first crack at replacing Rivera.

The Yankees contingent which included team president Randy Levine, COO Lonn Trost, Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal and Steve Swindal, was treated to a tour of the facility.

“They lift 700-ton gates with 25-horsepower engines,’’ Claiborne said. “They said the new [canal] they are building is the length of the Empire State building and as wide as four basketball courts.’’

Robertson said he was impressed with how the deal works.

“They told us that it’s the largest man-made lake, and how they use gravity to lift the water,’’ Robertson said.

Gardner hadn’t been in Rivera’s homeland for 24 hours, but he was into the trip, in which the outfielder is scheduled to play in each game.

“We haven’t been here long but I love it,” Gardner said. “I am looking forward to the games. I wanted to be part of [the celebration].’’

While Rivera posed for pictures and was serenaded with chants of “Mariano, Mariano’’ by school-aged children with whom he slapped palms and shook hands, the Yankees were happy to be part of the festivities.

“We love him and support him, that’s why we are here,’’ Gardner said. “We will miss Mariano. He is a great leader and a good presence in the clubhouse. We miss him, but we wish him well in the next phase of his life.’’